Practicing for mule deer shots

[Michael Arnette]

It's about time for a new Rinehart target so I converted my old one to a bedded position so I can practice shooting bedded animals in preparation for my hunt in Colorado.
...yikes! I need to practice this shot more!
   

[Michael Arnette]

I tried to simulate a stalking scenario also with kneeling, odd angles and slow movement. Here's my last group before heading in, shot some better ones but gosh it's hard to shoot at bedded animals...I hadn't realized. Any practice and or shot tips from accomplished Muley hunters?
   

[savagelh]

Honestly, where I hunt, it's very unlikely you will get a shot at a bedded muley. The vegetation is just too high or when we find them bedded it's in a canola or wheat field. %100 of the many stalks I've taken part in, I've had to wait for the deer to stand for a shot opportunity. Sometimes you get one sometimes you don't. I've tried to get them to stand and it's never ended well for me.

[savagelh]

Honestly, where I hunt, it's very unlikely you will get a shot at a bedded muley. The vegetation is just too high or when we find them bedded it's in a canola or wheat field. %100 of the many stalks I've taken part in, I've had to wait for the deer to stand for a shot opportunity. Sometimes you get one sometimes you don't. I've tried to get them to stand and it's never ended well for me.

[savagelh]

Double tap

[damascusdave]

I practice to shoot them as they rise out of their bed...to me that is when they have the least chance to jump the string...mulies are nowhere near as tightly wound as a whitetail...if I really wanted to shoot a mule deer every year I would shoot them off the roof of my garage

DDave

[Jack Skinner]

A bedded shot is tough. Most of the vital is usually covered. Unless you get lucky good advise wait for them to stand.

[Crittergetter]

Now Michael, I know you can do better than that!  I remember you making a perfect heart shot on my "bedded" decoy at around 60 yards with no warm up!  

[Longtoke]

Where are you hunting? Lots of mules In the southeast where I live, Id love to flick a few arrows if our paths ever cross.

[Michael Arnette]

Originally posted by crittergetter:
Now Michael, I know you can do better than that!  I remember you making a perfect heart shot on my "bedded" decoy at around 60 yards with no warm up!      

Yes these were from around 25ish yards and not proud groups! I'm pretty sure there was some serious luck with that shot    

[Bivyhunter]

As Damascusdave suggested, taking some shots off of the roof of your garage or house is a good idea. Try some straight down as well. I've shot many bucks in their beds in more open country will low growing vegetation. In many situations, as alluded to, you'll have to wait and let them stand, but I'd be prepared to take a bedded shot. Just make sure you take the time to visualize where there vitals are while taking into account their body position. I've seen them rolled onto their side on steeper sidehills, making in necessary to adjust arrow placement.

[Blueridge]

Nice GSP!  Good luck on your hunt.

[steadman]

Listen to South!!

[Roger Norris]

Practice shooting from your knees.

[Homey88]

Michael what set up will you be using for mule deer? Good luck to you on your hunt!

[Kc kreger]

Congratulations on drawing a tag.  My son and I will be bow hunting mule deer in unit 80/81.

Where did you draw into?

[Over&Under]

Good idea!
Good luck on your hunt...just drop that pooch off at my house on your way thru  

[Don Stokes]

The first buck I killed with a bow was a bedded whitetail. I was in a tree stand and he came from behind me and bedded 10 yards from my tree. My arrow hit the shoulder blade and didn't enter the chest cavity. I was very lucky to find him. I learned from that, the hard way, that the shoulder blade is not in the same place when the legs are folded up.

[Michael Arnette]

I may be hunting Muleys in South Dakota but most likely won't have time or money this year and I didn't draw a tag in Colorado or New Mexico this year but maybe next year. I will be hunting elk again in Colorado though!

[Hud]

In a challenging situation they may be under a rock ledge, behind a fallen tree, under sage and usually from a vantage point to watch their back trail, and from a downwind position. There may be a small group watching all directions.  To find bedded deer, you should have a spotting scope and be prepared to spend hours spotting, traveling and looking.

If you hunting an area without much pressure, concentrate on locating feeding, travel routes and possible bedding areas. In mountain areas, they will be moving up hill early to bed in the thickest crap around. It really depends on where you are hunting, but spend time looking, spotting, locating water, food, bedding areas and travel routes.

If you find one bedded, it will be the toughest shot you will encounter. Pick a spot, practice and know your limitations. Their nose is key, avoid getting winded.